I do not own Naruto so please don't sue me!

This is my first time participating in SasuSaku month so please be gentle when reviewing!

I will try to update as often as I can but there are no guarantees.

Day 1 – The Smell of Fresh Paint

Sakura and Ino carried two paint containers each as they made their way to the rose - haired medic's apartment. She had decided to re-paint the entire apartment as the once pale yellow walls had darkened and it was unpleasant to her. A few days ago she put the primer on so every wall in the house was currently a pure white color.

Now a few days later she had taken Ino with her to assist in carrying the colors she had chosen. "Sakura, do you want me to help you paint?"

"Thanks Ino but if we finish this quickly I won't have anything else to do during my week of vacation."

She shrugged at Sakura's idea of this being a vacation."Alright but don't hesitate to contact me okay?"

Sakura nodded. "Sure."

Taking her time she finished the living room, kitchen and the bathroom. After finishing up the hallways it was her bedroom next. Making good progress she was already on day four of her vacation. With furniture rearrangement and cleaning up she would make it in time.

Sakura settled on a light pink color for her bedroom walls and began to paint. It was a special hue that wasn't sold in a large container and she realized early that she wouldn't have enough.

Dressed in a white t-shirt and old black ninja pants with pink splatters on them she headed to get one more container.

Making her way back into her apartment Sakura noticed that the door was opened slightly. She smiled happily that Ino had dropped by again for a visit. Taking off her shoes and going into her living room she spoke up.

"Hey Ino, how do you like my painting skills-"

Sakura paused staring straight at the person before her certain that her eyes were deceiving her. There was the man that had taken her heart since she was a child, his pitch black clothing a stark contrast to the white walls of her living room.

"S-Sasuke-kun?"

He remained silent, his eyes studying her intently as she neared closer to him one step at a time.

"But you- then the news wasn't true?"

He shook his head. "Don't believe those rumors Sakura. You know better than that."

"What about the witness though? And the burned remains?"

His eyes softened at her confused state. "All fabricated by my captors."

Sakura was inches away from him when tears spilled down her cheeks. She lifted her right hand and balled a fist, hitting his chest with barely any strength.

"Do you know what I went through? I thought that I buried you two years ago! I visit your grave whenever I can and sit there talking to you!"

He grasped her shoulders feeling her shake beneath his hands. "Sakura, I regret not getting to you sooner after my mission. If I hadn't pushed the Hokage to give me that high ranked S-mission none of this would have happened. I was too confident."

She leaned forward resting her face against his chest. Sasuke Instinctively embraced her, allowing her sob."I will never leave you alone again."

She wiped her tears and looked up at him. "Do you promise?"

"I do Sakura."

It was then that she noticed his woodsy scent mingled with the smell of fresh paint as they stood in the center of the living room. It was a scene that would forever be etched in her memory of having him back in her arms again.